Staff have been preparing for the eventual opening of a medical marijuana production facility within the city by crafting the bylaw Smith told council, adding 15 companies are in various stages of qualifying for a Health Canada production license although none have yet opened their doors.

Smith said medical marijuana testing facilities must be connected to a production facility, although not necessarily in the same building. “This would allow a producer to use an adjacent building, for example, where testing was the principal use.”

He also told council the revised bylaw, although tied to the definition and standards for marijuana testing set out by Health Canada, would allow companies testing other drugs to set up shop here as well. Council had little opposition to the changes and voted to send the bylaw change to a public hearing.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infotelnews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

OPINION A report has recently stated that the average cost of food will inflate near double its average annual rate. This does not include fresh produce and most animal proteins. The inflation for these products may t